Tabla

The tabla (Hindi: तबला, Telugu: తబలా, Urdu: تبلہ tablā) is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in the classical, popular and religious music of the Indian subcontinent and in Hindustani classical music. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres. The term tabla is derived from an Arabic word, tabl, which simply means "drum".

The history of this instrument is at times the subject of heated debate.